edzel and most of the nation’s best sprinters guarantee the TJ Smith Stakes will be a thriller.

Horses

Sprint machines put spotlight on TJ Smith

by Ray Thomas

1st Apr 2019 4:15 PM

THE nation's best sprinters, Trapeze Artist, Osborne Bulls, Redzel and Pierata are set to clash in a TJ Smith Stakes that is shaping as a scene stealer at the Doncaster-Derby Day meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Day one of The Championships has $10.1 million prizemoney spread across 10 races, including four at Group 1 level.

The $3 million The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) and the $2 million Harrolds ATC Australian Derby (2400m) are traditionally the feature races but Saturday's renewal of the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) promises to be a sprint race for the ages.

Gerald Ryan's Trapeze Artist is attempting to defend his TJ Smith title and is $5 equal favourite with Godolphin's Osborne Bulls. Redzel, Pierata and Santa Ana Lane share the second line of betting at $8.

Redzel ran only eighth to Nature Strip and Pierata in The Galaxy last start but the Team Snowden-trained sprinter has a habit of peaking on the big day.